Display sign



Sept. 9, 1958 P. R.' GRANTS 27,850,825

' DISPLAY SIGN Filed oct. '7, 1952 Aww/@RMU 26 a F/g.4 /22 v32 Ff 7 N gff IL /l N- n x a m* SGAR@ l L /gn8, /IO

Paul R Gran/s INVENIOR.

United States Patent C DISPLAY SIGN Paul R. Grants, Montreal, Quebec,Canada Application October 7, 1952, Serial No. 313,527

7 Claims. (Cl. 40-137) This invention relates in general to displaymeans, and more specifically to improvements in display signs.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved displaysign of a novel construction which utilizes an eye-catching medium forattracting attention of people passing by the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved display signwhich is so constructed and designed whereby the same may be utilizedfor the advertising of more than one product on a single display boardwith only one advertiser being visible at a time.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved display signwhich is so constructed and designed whereby a plurality of differentproducts may be advertised on a single display sign, said differentadvertisements coming into view progressively as a person passes thesign from one angle to another.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved display signwhich is eye-catching and may be utilized to advertise a plurality ofproducts that permit intermingling of advertisements, said display signbeing formed of relatively inexpensive materials and being easilyconstructed whereby the same is economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved displaysign which will depict different configuration, wording, or other data,when viewed by people passing the same at different angles, said displaysign enabling advertisers and other persons to display their variousbrands in the form of illustrations and suitable wording in a singledisplay sign and thereby reduce costs in having individual signs toadvertise individual brands.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application and in which:

Figures l, 3, and 6 are perspective views of dilerent forms of displaysigns illustrating various arrangements of slats for varying theadvertising effect of the Same;

Figures 2, 4 and 7 are front elevational views of the display signs ofFigures l, 3 and 6, respectively, and show the dilerence inadvertisement displays when viewed from the front; and,

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a typical display sign and shows therelationship of slats facilitating various displays or advertisementswith a single display sign.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 a first form of display sign which isreferred to in general by the reference number 10. The display sign 10includes a display board 12 which has inscribed on -the front surfacethereof indicia 14 advertising the product.

Carried by the display board 12 and projecting forwardly therefrom, asis best illustrated in Figure 8, is a plurality of vertically extendingspaced parallel slats 16..

, lar to the surface of the front face of the display board 12 and arecolored to blend with the same. When viewed from an angle, the slats 16prevent sighting of the advertising indicia 18 and blend with the frontface of the display board 12 to give an appearance of a blank spotthereon. However, when a person passing by the display sign 10approaches a position directly in front of the same, the advertisingindicia 18 will begin to come into view and will be clearly visible whenviewed from a position directly in front of the same.

Due to the fact that the advertising indicia V18 sud-i,

denly appears to a person passing by the display sign 10 the same willbe called to his or her attention with the result that the display 10will be noticed. Inasmuch as one of the primary desires of a displaysign is to attract attention of persons passing by the same, will seethat the arrangements of the slats 16 and the advertising indicia 18fulfills a major requirement of the display signs.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 in particular, it is vseen that thereis illustrated a slightly modified form of display signs which isreferred to in genera-l by the referj ence number 20. The display sign20, like the displaysign 10, includes an elongated generallyrectangulary display board 22. Inscribed on the face of the displayboard.

22 is suitable advertising indicia 24.

The display board 22 has secured to the face thereof adjacent its lefthand edge a plurality of outwardly projecting, spaced parallel slats 26which extend vertically. Unlike the slats 16, the slats 26 are not ofthe same length nor are slats in a vertical plane coextensive. The slats26- are so arranged to form the outline of a display object which may beof any desired configuration.

' The slats 26 have side faces 2,8 thereof, colored in contrast to thecoloring of the face of the display board 22 whereby when the displaysign 20 is viewed at an angle the configuration of the display objectoutlined by the slats 26 is readily visible. However, the front edges 30of the slats are formed to blend with the face of the display board 22so that when the display board 22 is viewed directly from the front theslats 26 blend with the surface y thereof and the display object is nolonger visible.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that a personsattention will be attracted to the display sign 20 either the suddenappearance or the sudden disappearance of the display object outlined bythe slats 26 as he or she passes by the display sign. Once a personsattention has been called to the display sign 20, he or she willundoubtably read the advertising thereon in an attempt to discover whatis causing the appearance or dis-` the left hand side thereof is aplurality of vertically eX- tending slats 38. The slats 38, like theslats 16 and 26, are in spaced parallel relation. It will also be notedthat the slats 38 are of different lengths so as to outline a displayobject in a manner similar to the action of the slats 26.

In ordery that the display object outlined by the slats 38 may beclearly visible from an angle, side faces 40 thereof, are contrastinglycolored with respect to the face of the display board 34. When a personwalking past the l si display board 34 views the slats 38 from an anglethe display object outlined by the same will be clearly visible.However, front edges 42 of the slats 38 are colored to blend with theface of the display board 34 so that when a person passing the displayboard reaches a position in front of the slats 38, they will blend withthe face of the display board and the object outlined by them will nolonger be visible.

In order that a differently congurated display object may be seen thereis printed on the face of the display board 34 between the slats 38another display object 44. The display object 44 is visible only whenviewed directly from the front and is obscured from angular viewing bythe slats 38.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it is seen that there isillustrated a fourth form of display sign which is referred to ingeneral by the reference number 46. The display sign 46 includes agenerally rectangular display board 48 having a flat front face.Inscribed on the front face of the display board 48 is suitableadvertising indicia 50.

Projecting outwardly from the front face of the display board 48adjacent one edge thereof, is a plurality of vertical slats 52. Theslats 52 are of different lengths and are in spaced parallel relation.Printed upon the faces of the slats 52 visible in Figure 6 is a displayobject 54 which may be of an advertising nature. It is to be understoodthat the display object 54 will be visible only when the slats 52 areviewed from an angle and that the same will suddenly disappear when theslats are viewed from the front.

In order that more than one object may be displayed on the display board48, the same has inscribed thereon between the slats 52 a second displayobject (not shown). While the front view of the display sign 46 has notbeen illustrated, it should be understood that the same may be identicalwith Figure 7 and that the figure may be considered to be a front viewof the display sign. Therefore, it is seen that when the display object54 suddenly disappears, the second display object, which is inscribed onthe front face of the display board 48, will appear with the suddenchanging of display objects attracting a passing persons attention.

In order that a third display object may be displayed on the displaysign 46, the faces of the slats, not visible in Figure 6, may be coloredin contrast to the color of the face of the display board 48 so that theoutline of the slats 52 will be prominent. It is to be understood thatthe outline of the slats 52 may be so configurated to form a displayobject of the type set forth with regards to Figures 3 through 7inclusive.

Should it be desirous that the area of the display board 48 in thevicinity of the slats 52 appear to be blank when viewed from the left inFigure 6, the faces of the slats 52 which are not visible, may becolored to blend with the face of the display board 48 in a mannersimilar to that described with respect to Figures 1 and 2.

Regardless of the configuration of the faces of the slats 52 which maynot be seen in Figure 6, it will be readily apparent that threedifferent and distinct displays may be possible with the display sign46, depending upon the angle from which the same is viewed. In additionto the coloring of the unseen faces of the slats 52 outlined above, itis readily understood that the same also have inscribed thereon suitableindicia which would be visible only when the display sign 46 is viewedfrom the left.

In view of the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that displayedsigns conforming to the spirit of this invention will not only attractattention of people passing by the same, but will permit theadvertisement of more than one product on a single display sign,

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resortedto without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A display sign comprising a display board, a plurality of thin slatsextending from the surface of said display board at right anglesthereto, at least one surface of each of said slats being of a color andmaterial to blend with the surface of said display board, said slatshaving faces thereof facing in one direction contrasting with thesurface of said display board, and said slats having varying lengths todepict an object when viewed from an angle.

2. A display sign comprising a display board, a plurality of thin slatsextending from the surface of said display board at right anglesthereto, at least one surface of each of said slats being of a color andmaterial to blend with the surface of said display board, said slatshaving faces thereof facing in one direction contrasting with thesurface of said display board, said slats varying in length to depict anobject when viewed from an angle, configurations formed on said displayboard between said slats to depict another object, said another objectbeing visible only when viewed from the front.

3. A display sign comprising a display board, a plurality of slatsextending from the surface of said display board at right anglesthereto, a surface of each of said slats being of a color and materialto blend with the sur face of said display board, said slats havingother surfaces thereof facing in one direction contrasting with thesurface of said display board, said slats varying in length to depict anobject when viewed from an angle, said slats having configurationsformed on said first surfaces depicting a second object, said secondobject being visible only when viewed from an angle different from saidfirst named angle.

4. A display sign comprising a display board, a plurality of thin slatsextending therefrom at right angles to a surface thereof, said slatshaving faces thereof facing in one direction contrasting with thesurface of said display board, said slats varying in length to depict anobject when viewed from an angle.

5. A display sign comprising a display board, a plurality of slatsextending therefrom at right angles to a surface thereof, said slatshaving faces thereof facing in one direction contrasting with thesurface of said display board, said slats varying in length to depict anobject when viewed from an angle, said slats having coniigurationsformed on faces thereof facing in a direction depicting a second object,said second object being visible only when viewed from an angledifferent from said first named angle.

6. A display sign comprising a display board, a plurality of slats, eachof said slats being elongated, relatively narrow, and formed of thinmaterial to present narrow edges, one edge of each of said slats beingsecured to said display board with said slats extending from saiddisplay board at right angles to the surface thereof, the edges of saidslats remote from said display board corresponding in color to thesurface of said display board, a display object on said display boardbetween said slats, at least one face of each of said slats being of acolor contrasting to the color of the display Iboard whereby when thedisplay board is viewed from an angle, the arrangement of the slats willbe seen, the lengths of said slats varying to depict a second displayobject.

7. A display sign comprising a display board having a colored exposedsurface, a plurality of slats, each of said slats being elongated andrelatively narrow with each of the slats being formed of thin materialto present narrow edges, one edge in each of said slats being secured tosaid display board at right angles to the colored exparallel relation,the edges of said slats remote from said display board corresponding incolor to said colored exposed surface, a display object depicted on saiddisplay board between said slats, at least one face of each of saidslats being of a color contrasting to the color of said display boardwhereby when the display board is viewed from an angle the arrangementof the slats will be seen, and having said slats varying in length todepict a second display object.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,883Heinemann July 31, 1888 6 Spiegel Aug. 28, White Dee. 24, Buescher etal. July 24, King Nov. 17, Sayre May 10, Swarbrick Sept. 27, Lee Aug.19, Mathis Nov. 16,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 17,

Australia Feb. 4,

